Allspring Study: Retirees Seek Guidance but Resist Giving Up Control

Allspring Global Investments, a global asset management firm overseeing $642 billion in assets under advisement, has published its 2026 retirement study examining one of the central tensions facing today's retirees: the desire for professional guidance set against a deep reluctance to cede financial control.

The study, titled "The Retirement Decisions Defaults Can't Address," was released from Charlotte, N.C., and focuses on retirement plan decisions that automated or default-based systems are not equipped to resolve. The research suggests that standard plan defaults — a common tool used by employers to steer workers toward savings benchmarks — fall short when addressing the nuanced, individualized choices retirees must make.

Read more Key Checks Before Buying Raw Land Near Greeneville, Tenn. →

The findings underscore a growing recognition within the asset management industry that retirement planning is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. Workers approaching or entering retirement face complex decisions around income drawdown, healthcare costs, and longevity risk that require personalized input rather than preset formulas, according to the study.

Allspring's research positions itself within a broader industry conversation about how financial firms and plan sponsors can better serve participants who want informed recommendations without fully surrendering decision-making authority. The trade-off between guidance and autonomy represents a structural challenge for retirement plan design going forward.

Continue reading at All Financial Services & Investing.